DirecTV and AT&T announced DirecTV Now with a ton of fanfare. Cord cutting has been growing and growing in popularity, especially with multiple low-cost options like Sling TV and PlayStation Vue (and that doesn’t even touch on the likes of Netflix). So DirecTV needed a compelling answer to users that are ditching traditional cable subscriptions in droves. Read more

The year might be known for when Google replaced the Nexus program or how Samsung experienced disaster with the Galaxy Note 7, but it should also be remembered as the year Huawei stepped out of the shadows. From the launch of the Honor 5X at the beginning of 2016 to the star-studded launch of the Huawei P9 in April, Huawei has taken giant strides in new markets. No longer is it simply known as one of those interesting but mysterious companies in China.

Huawei’s Honor brand, too, took another step towards household recognition in August with the launch of the Honor 8, a beautiful phone that shares much of its DNA with the Huawei P9. The Honor 8 differs from the P9 in various aspects, though, and is all the better for it.

By now, Fitbit is coming close to being synonymous with “activity tracker” and the brand name is occasionally tossed around as a generic term to describe any similar device. That does mean the company has a lot to live up to in terms of delivering solid devices that meet the expectations of buyers. One of those devices that was released this past year was the Fitbit Blaze which is ostensibly the company’s top of the line device and probably comes closest to merging the Fitbit activity tracking expertise with pseudo-smartwatch capabilities.

After spending some time with the Fitbit Blaze, we put together this review to help you decide whether this might be the trail you want to blaze for an activity tracker purchase. Read more

You’ve heard all of the standard names when it comes to smartwatches — Huawei, Samsung, LG, Moto, TAG Heuer and so many more. But, one you probably haven’t heard of is Mobvoi, one of the first Chinese companies Google has backed since leaving the country in 2010. With that in mind, we’re a little intrigued about what the company has to offer, especially after its successful Kickstart campaign over and abundantly funded the development of its new smartwatch, the Ticwatch 2.

It’s not running Android Wear, but that’s largely because many of Google’s services aren’t available in China. Instead, it’s running a spinoff of Android — Ticwear 4.0. Sure, it makes you question where the watch is worth picking up or not, but you actually might be surprised.

Christmas is just around the corner, and what better a gift than their very own pair of headphones? They can stop using your pair, and listen to their YouTube videos or music quietly with their own. But, there’s one pair you might specifically want to check out, especially with the holidays being almost here. iClever’s BoostCare Kids’ reindeer-inspired headphones are the perfect pair for any parent wanting to find some kid-friendly headphones that not only fit well, but let you control the volume as well.

Qardio is a fitness tracking service that tracks your blood pressure and weight to give you a better understanding of your health with their connected devices, the QardioArm and QardioBase. It’s slightly different than the usual fitness tracking that covers your steps, heart rate, and sleep, but it’s no less important. Read more

Many companies have tried to create an Android-based gaming console, but most of the devices have turned out to be a flop. The OUYA is obviously the first one that comes to mind, but even after being bought my gaming peripheral company Razer, it’s failed to pick up traction. But, manufacturers still think consumes want them. Enter the GEM Box, created by a company called EMTEC based out of France.

With a quick and easy setup, an Xbox-style controller, and an intuitive interface, EMTEC believes they might just be able to corner this area of the market. Will the GEM Box be able to do it? Follow along with our review below.

It’s been a good year for phone photographers, with each new device trying its hardest to outdo whatever is being replaced. We’ve reached a point where most people are replacing separate cameras with their phones, and they’re not losing any quality over it.

When Google announced the Pixel, they made it clear that the camera was a huge focus, and for the most part, they delivered on that. But Google isn’t the only one making top notch cameras, so let’s find out how it stacks up against some of the competition. Read more

We know Android phones. We know Android tablets. Those form factors have long been where Android devices have thrived, but Lenovo is trying something new in 2016. The Yoga Book is a laptop running Google’s mobile operating system, which we’ve rarely seen from global brands over the years. And, since it’s from the Yoga line, you can use it in a variety of ways. So you’re not actually bound to this being an Android laptop. It can still be a tablet.

Google announced the Pixel to some praise and some criticism. It was a departure from the Nexus brand, offering a vessel for Google’s Android instead of pure Android that we were used to, but it was also the first time Google went all-in on designing the phone from top to bottom.